County sets tax rate
LISA HOBBS - News Editor
Only six other counties in the state of Tennessee have lower property tax rates than Warren County.
“This is the Tax Levy Resolution for fiscal year 2026,” said Commissioner Scott Rubley, during Monday night’s full commission meeting. “As you will see, there is no tax increase. The tax rate, as suggested, will remain the same at 1.2091.”
Breakdown of how the county’s funds were distributed:
· General - $30,673,204
· Ambulance - $5,381,054
· Drug Control - $118,200
· Highway/Public Works - $5,826,283
· General Purpose Schools – $86,537,959
· Central Cafeteria - $8,434,761
· General Debt Service - $3,470,650
The General Fund is comprised of 43 allocations, including departmental budgets for County Executive ($282,043), Register of Deeds ($344,630), Election Commission ($452,828), Property Accessor’s Office ($623,653), County Trustee’s Office ($489,632), County Clerk’s Office ($565,240), Sheriff’s Department ($5,440,199), and Jail ($5,127,569).
Commissioner Ron Lee questioned where the county rates in Tennessee as far as the property tax rate, to which Rubley added, “We are, by county, the seventh lowest property tax rate in the state of Tennessee.”
Those words brought forth a round of applause.
Also, within the budget, full-time county employees will receive a $1,500 salary increase and a $500 one-time bonus. Part-time employees received half those amounts.
Rubley continued, “We created a capital improvements fund. At some point in time, we hope that this county will be debt free and we will be able to fund our capital projects through that.”
Currently, the fund is set at zero. However, it was allocated 0.0640 of the county’s property taxes in the upcoming fiscal year.
Commissioners unanimously approved the proposed property tax rate, as well as the proposed budget.
Also in attendance were Commissioners Donna Smith, Scott Kelly, Christy Ross, Charles Dotson, Ken Martin, Chris Rippy, Blaine Wilcher, Brad Hillis, Phillip Stout, Gary Martin, Carlene Brown, Steven D. Helton, Gary Prater, Cole Taylor, Tommy Savage, Michael Bell, Steve M. Glenn and Kenny Moffitt.